The captain of the « solong » accused of manslaughter – Liberation

First legal consequences after the collision in the North Sea. The captain of Solong, The cargo cargo that struck on Monday March 10 on STENA IMMACULATE, An oil tanker chartered by the US military was charged by British police, investigators announced on Friday, March 14. The police custody of this 59 -year -old man, of Russian nationality, had already been extended during the day. He had been placed there for « manslaughter by serious negligence », after a member of the crew of his ship had been missing and then announced dead by the authorities.

The collision between the container carrier and the oil ship, which was at anchor off the coast of the Yorkshire, northeast of England. A cargo crew member has disappeared and is presumed dead, according to the authorities. Police custody had been extended by the British authorities, who saw a « Imperative (…) due to the complexity of the incident which concerns sea ships, the number of witnesses involved and the establishment of all the perimeters to gather information and evidence ».

According to the Russian Embassy in the United Kingdom, quoted by the Tass news agency, five Russians were on board the Solongincluding the captain, and « All crew members (Russians) are alive ». « None of them was injured »said the Russian Embassy. The circumstances of this collision arouse many questions. The British government, however, said it had no elements accrediting an intentional act.

The shock caused gigantic fires aboard the two boats. They were largely off Thursday evening even if « Little homes » were still reported on the Solong deck, according to the coast guard. At the end of the day, experts were able to board « Proceed with a first evaluation of damage to guarantee secure access to the two ships », had indicated the chief of the coast guard Paddy O'Callaghan.

The incident also aroused concerns about Its impact on sea flora and fauna. But surveillance flights confirmed Thursday « That there is not to be pollution » Coming from the two ships, according to the same source. One of the reservoirs of the Immaculate STENA containing part of the 220,000 barrels of kerosene was « breeze » In the collision, said the American company Crowley, which operates the oil tanker.